Letter: Beware of ‘political speak’

The amount of propaganda coming from Rob Wittman’s congressional office over the past few weeks suggests a nervous politician. Like all good propaganda it seems plausible, but like all propaganda it is designed to mislead. The argument that they all do it is little comfort. I want, and I believe we all should demand, that they be honest—and that goes for all of them, regardless of party.

But Rob has a habit of suggesting one thing while doing another. Sure, he has a lot of baggage given a President that just can’t tell the truth. But the Congressman has plenty of problems of his own. He and his colleagues passed a massive tax cut primarily benefiting the wealthy. Then they feigned surprise that it led to a significant increase in the deficit. Subsequently, Rob’s colleague Mitch indicated that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will need to be cut to reduce the deficit that they created. They call these things “entitlements” as if people hadn’t paid into these programs. Taking his cue from party leadership, Rob claims that universal health care is too expensive. What he really means is that insurance company profits are more important than the health care needs of his constituents.

Also, consider his claim that he is working hard “to expand broadband access for unserved areas of Virginia.” He touts his Broadband Task Force, his meetings with industry leaders, and his connection to Ajit Pai, the FCC chairman, former Verizon lawyer, and enemy of net neutrality—the principle that internet access should be free and equal for all. But Rob indicates he favors a “light touch regulatory style.” For those who are not up-to-date on politician speak, this means that his vision of the internet is one where service providers can create a tiered system where access is neither free nor equal.

Moreover, he is no friend of public education, despite his claims. In fact, he pushes the same failed approach implemented in Michigan by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, whose policies have resulted in a decline in Michigan students’ test scores and on-time high school graduation rates. The DeVos and Wittman policies shift taxpayer money to charter and other private schools that have little or no accountability to taxpayers and often produce poor academic results for children. The key to producing good public schools is to value the expertise of teachers, not the failed theories of billionaire “reformers” like DeVos who have never taught.

Rob is pretty slick at portraying himself as working hard for the people of District 1. He’s had 11 years to practice his political sleight of hand. What he can’t do is talk about real accomplishments in those areas that would make a real positive impact on all his constituents.